May Classes at Yarndogs

Here are the classes I am teaching at Yarndogs this month!  You must contact Yarndogs to sign up and pay for your class.  408-399-1909  or email them through http://www.yarndogs.com/

Class costs vary.

Sunday, May 5, from 12-1pm: Spiderweb Scarf:  

This is my own design!  It is both charted and written and can be purchased on Ravelry.com for $3.25.  The scarf is made from 2 skeins of Koigu sock yarn, then blocked to open up the gorgeous spider web design.   You should know how to chain, sc, and dc.  I will teach you the quad-treble crochet!

Tuesday, May 7,  from 10-11am:  Granny Squares:  Beginners!  Learn to make the basic granny square from a chart and written instructions.

Spiderweb scarf, my design

Saturday, May 11, from 10am-12pm:  Shibui Mix Shawl (knit)
A soft dreamy triangular shawl made with Shibui Staccato and Silk Cloud yarn.  Shibui plays with texture in this monochromatic design.  Should know how to knit, purl and yarn over.

Saturday, May 11,  from 1-2pm:  Crochet Techniques:  Learn a variety of methods for joining granny squares and other motifs.  Invisible and decorative joins are both taught, as well as recommendations for when to use each type.  HOMEWORK For the Crochet Techniques class, the student will need to bring 2 completed granny squares, a tapestry needle, contrasting yarn to completed squares, and crochet hook to match yarn.  You will have to  make the granny squares on your own, and should be an experienced beginner.

Saturday, May 18, from 3-4pm:  Crochet Techniques:  A repeat of the above class, just in case you can't make it on the 11th!

Tuesdays, May 14, 21, and 28 from 10-11am:  Crochet with Kim: These are free sessions!  Please come and hang out with me!  We will chat and crochet!  Bring your coffee, and any projects you are working on.  If you need some tips or help with your project, I'll be on hand to help.

Shibui Mix Shawl, knit

Cherry Blossom Stroller Blanket

I've got a new pattern to share!  It's the Cherry Blossom Stroller Blanket, and it's just in time for spring. I will be teaching a class on this blanket at Yarndogs in Los Gatos, at the end of March.  You can buy the pattern off of Ravelry:  HERE

Piecrust Scarf Pattern!!

I've published the Piecrust Scarf Pattern!  This is a textured scarf which is worked on the long side.  The ruffle runs along one edge and it was this ruffle that sparked the name.  When I was blocking the ruffle, I felt like I was making the fluted edge of a pie crust.   The scarf was inspired by the knit "Just Enough Ruffles" scarf from Laura Chau.  I loved the shape and thought a crocheted version was "necessary" haha!  I added the awesome texture to the body of the scarf, which will prompt folks to ask you, "are you sure that is crocheted?"

I teach this scarf (by arrangement) at Yarndogs, in Los Gatos.  You can get the pattern on Ravelry HERE, or by emailing me directly.

Teaching at Yarndogs

You may have seen this post, where I talk about my "Red Skies at Night" version of Linda Permann's Starry Night Cardigan.  I received permission from Linda to teach a class in making her pattern (student's bought their own copy of the pattern).  I loved the construction of the cardigan and the clear instructive way it was written, and thought it would be a great crocheted garment class for a medium-level student.  Also, you may remember, I LOVE LOVE how mine came out!!!  Gotta share that love!

Yarndogs in Los Gatos put me on the class schedule for last month, for my Appreciation Cowl (more on that later) and for the Starry Night Cardigan.  I have one student for the cardi, a wonderful chatty lady named Gracie, who is cheerful and sweet and makes my classes a joy.  Gracie is the student that has more knowledge than she thinks she does, and just needs a teeny bit more confidence in her crochet abilities before she is off and running on her own.  (Gracie, you can do it!!)  This is her first garment, and she is making it for her daughter.  Her daughter chose Madeline Tosh sock DK, and tried on my sample cardi for fit.  The sample fit her perfectly!  So we just followed my notes for adjustments to the pattern for length and gauge.  The motifs are now finished and Gracie is zipping along on the skirt portion of the cardi.  It won't be long before her daughter can wear this cardigan with pride!

Gracie and her own Starry Night Cardigan in progress (iPhone pix)

My other class, the Appreciation Cowl, was a hit!  I had 5 students!  It was really fun.  I had a repeat student that I hadn't seen for 6 months or so, and it was great to catch up with her.  The students were all happy to learn the foundation single crochet and said they would all use it in future projects.  It is such a useful technique!  Two of the students decide to use a bamboo-cotton blend yarn for their cowls, so they would have a more summery accessory.  We went with a G hook and a thinner DK-ish yarn, for a more open look.  I'm excited to make one like that myself!  This class was only for one hour, and we all realized another hour was wanted.   They may put the Cowl on the June class schedule again.